From: Leah Wellman
Columbus
It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end for many Bartholomew County children and they will soon be returning to school. Along with a new school year comes new classes, new extracurricular and new friends.
A child will spend most of his or her waking hours away from the home. So it is a good idea to put safeguards in place to make sure one’s child is as safe as possible while they are growing and learning this school year. One way to help protect a child is to reduce his or her exposure to secondhand smoke.
Even if parents and the rest of the family do not smoke, it is best to always be cautious of the different environments one’s child is exposed to throughout the day. Do their friends’ parents smoke inside the house? Do they play sports in an area that isn’t smoke free? Venues that peole assume are smoke free, such as a public park, may still allow designated smoking areas.
Having an open conversation with one’s child about their daily activities and the dangers of secondhand smoke can eliminate a lot of these unknowns. It is also important to encourage a child to ask others to not smoke in front of them. Instilling this mentality in children at a young age will also help prevent them from ever starting to smoke.
Parents who smoke can protect their family from secondhand smoke by implementing no-smoking rules in their own house or car and keep the smoke outside. Anyone ready to quit smoking and live a healthier life can call for free help at 1-800-Quit-Now, or visit QuitNowIndiana.com.
